Eat Your Way To Better Skin

Clear, luminous, glowing, smooth, radiant, firm, dewy – all adjectives any one of us would love to hear in reference to our skin. Achieving such praise isn’t easy, unless you happen to be a 17 year old who hasn’t been exposed to too much sun or harsh weather, and happened to bypass the acne phase. Outside of this scenario there is a strict skin care regimen to be adhered to in order to receive such praise.

But is it really ALL up to the effective products and the rigorous regimen we employ? Science and the experts say No! While what we put on our body is very important, what we put in our bodies is just as essential to skin’s wellbeing. In fact, according to Dr. Jessica Wu, dermatologist, dietician to the stars and author of Feed Your Face “What you eat can affect your hormone balance, cause acne, and create or lessen inflammation, which is associated with skin aging.”

Dietitians, dermatologists, and estheticians all agree the food we eat has a direct affect on our health and all our organs, and skin is the biggest one of them all! So let’s dive right into our list of the most good-for-your-skin foods:

Herbs – these wonderful taste enhancers are actually great sources of antioxidants, as Alex Caspero, a registered dietitian and nutrition expert, put it: “Most of us think of fruits and vegetables as antioxidant sources, but surprisingly, herbs and spices pack the most punch. Turmeric, a spice often found in Indian cuisine, is one of the best”.

Fatty foods – healthy fats are great for your skin. The standouts in this category are Salamon (along with most fatty fish) and Avocado. Fatty foods are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which reduce inflammation, keep skin thick, supple and moisturized, otherwise skin becomes dry and scaly. Both salmon and avocado are also great sources of Vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects the skin from irritation and damage, and Vitamin C, which helps in creation of collagen.

Vegetables – vegetables are not only super healthy they are great for your skin, the best for skin come in 3 colors: red, yellow and green.  According to Dr. Wu “The darker and brighter the color, the more nutrients. Always choose ..‘darker greens such as’… arugula or dandelion greens. These vegetables fight the free radicals that break down collagen over time, so they can help support the delicate, thin skin around your eyes.” For yellow its bell peppers, for red, the best choice is dark tomatoes which are high in antioxidants and help fight sun damage. You should try to eat different color vegetables in every meal.

Nuts and Seeds – nuts and seeds are full of fats and nutrients which are great for healthy glowing skin. The nut that really packs a punch is Walnut, it has selenium, protein, zinc, essential fats, vitamin E, vitamin C, – could not ask for better combination for skin health.

Dark Chocolate and Red Wine – saved the best for last! Red wine contains an antioxidant called Resveratrol, it facilitates a natural anti-aging process by suppressing harmful radicals that damage your skin. Cocoa beans, that chocolate is made of,  protects the skin against sunburn, wrinkles through the its high levels of antioxidants. It also helps with skin thickness and texture, hydration and blood flow.

So head to the kitchen, grab a glass of wine and a piece of chocolate and get cooking! Get ready to enjoy healthy and beautiful skin soon after!